Foldable chair



Nov. 20, 1934.

J. KOVATS 1,981,387

FOLDABLE CHAIR Original Filed April '23, 1930 l 2 Sheets-Sheet l dmg Nay. 20, 1934. J KOVATS 1,981,387

FOLDABLE CHAIR Original Filed April 23, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 20, 1934 FOLDABLE CHAIR John Kovats, Bridgeport, Conn assignor to The Leg-O-Matic Company, corporation of Connecticut Bridgeport, Conn, a

Application April-23,1930, Serial P10144 58? Renewed April 17,1934.

This invention relates to foldable furniture, and more particularly to a foldable chair construction, and has for an object to provide such a construction in which the back, legs and seat ember can be easily and quickly folded together into a minimum space, and in which the back and leg members canbe folded and unfolded at the same time and at a singleoperation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a construction in which the chair when the back and legs are in extended position will have substantially the appearance of a rigid chair construction, and will also have substantially the same rigidity as such a construction.

It is another object of the invention to provide a construction in which the chair when folded may be stood on edge and will stand by itself so that it is not necessary to lean it against a wall or other support when in folded position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for foldable chairs in which practically all of the elements may be stamped. from sheet metal, greatly decreasing the cost of construction and facilitating quantity production.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangement of parts, a preferred and modified form of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, it being of course understood that changes and modifications may be employed without departing from V the principles of the invention as described and claimed. In these drawings Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of my improved chair in folded position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the center of the chair showing the parts in the extended or unfolded position, the free or end portions of the back and legs being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation looking from the right of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view looking toward the bottom of Fig. 2 with the legs shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a detail of a plate connection.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the chair in folded condition.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the chair with the back and legs partially collapsed.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of one connections.

Fig. 9 is a view looking toward the bottom thereof.

of the bracket Fig. 10 is a'view .looking fromthe right of Fig. 8. I

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal vertical section through the chair showing a modified construction.

. 12 is a bottom plan view, of theconstruction of Fig. 11, with the legs .in section, and

Fig. 13 is a detail elevation showing a modified construction of lo'ckingmeans.

Referring to the formofthe 'device shown in Figs. 1 to loinclusive, my improved chair construction comprises .a seat member 14 of any suitable construction, but preferably including side bars 15 forming a frame inwhich the seat proper of any su'table construction and finish is carried. The seat member may be of any desired shape, in thepresentconstruction being four-sided with. the side edges'flared somewhat toward the front so that" the seat is somewhat wider at the frontedge than at the rear edge, which is a common shape for chair seats and (53 gives a desiredattractive appearance. This arrangement alsov permits the front legs 16 to be spaced somewhat wider apart than the rear legs 17 'so they can both fold closely against the underside of the seat member and will not interfere 801 with each' other as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

The front legs'16, in the present construction, are pivoted to .the'seat member adjacent the front edge thereof'by any suitable means, preferably by means of brackets 18 secured to the seat member and having spaced ears/19 extending on opposite sides of the leg and between which the leg is pivoted as indicated at 20. The-bracket is preferably stamped from sheet metal and in the construction shown comprises a plate 21 secured to the side, and front bars 22 and 23 respectively as indicated in Fig. 4 to strengthen the joint between these members and carries one of the ears 19. The ear 19 on the other s'de is formed on a separate member 24 forming part of the bracket. This gives a very rigidsupportfor the leg so it will not yield sidewise, and the legs can be further/braced by a cross member 25 connecting the two :legs. Y

Adjacent the rear edge of the seat member are 10o mounted two brackets 26 also preferably of sheet metal and shaped 'substantialy as shown in Figs.

8, 9 and 10. These brackets can be conveniently mounted on the inner sides of the side bars 22 with the upwardly extended portions 27' at the rear edge of the seat 'member. The brackets are mounted by any su'table bolts or rivets 28. Pivoted to the upright portions 27 of these brackets is the back member 29 of any suitable construction, such as the sidebars and the back the front andrear legs.

. locking means.

panel 30 between them of any suitable material and design. The back is preferably pivoted to the brackets 26 of plate members 31 rigidly connected to the side bars of the back and pivoted to the uprights 27 as shown at 32. The plates 31 are preferably substantially L-shaped providing extending end portions 33 shown more clearly in Figs. 6 and 7. Somewhat similar plates 34 are connected tothe rear legs 17 and the two cross portions of the plates 33 and 34 are pivoted together as shown at 35. It will be evident that as these cross portions extend inwardly from the back and rear legs toward Lthe front of the chair, they will extend under the seat and thus.

will not be noticeable from the back and they permit the back and rear legs to fold more accurately' against the seat member as will be later described. They also provide substantially wardly the upper straight edges 36 and 37 which come-into substantial alignment when the chair is folded as indicated in Fig. 6 and, therefore,provide a base substantially the thickness of the foldedchair and of suflicient length to hold the folded chair in upright position so that it is not necessary to lean this chair against a wall: or other support, and it requires a minimum space for storageor stacking. r I

Front legs 16 are connected to the seat member by toggle links 38 and 39, link 38 being pivoted to the legs'at 40,while the link 39 is pivoted to the seat member at 41, and the two links are pivotedtogetherat 42 between the pivots 40 and 41. These links are'so' proportioned that when the legs are in the upright position as shown in Fig. 2, the'links are in substantial alignment and, therefore, rigidly brace and lock the front legs in the upright position. One of these links, in the present instance the link 39, is connected by a bar or link 43 with the rear legs 17 and the back member 29. The link 43 is pivoted to the bar at 44 and to the plate 34 at point 45- This pivot 45. may be coincident with the pivot 4 35. between the back member and the rear legas' shown in Fig. 11 or it may be located at various positions on. the plate 33 or 34 depending on just what. relative movement is desired between The-rear legs 17 are pivoted to the seat member by means of swinging links 46 which are pivoted at one end to the plate 34 and thus the rear legs at their otheriend'are pivoted to the bracket 26 and therefore, the seat member asvindicated at 48. The rear legs are connected together and braced by transverse connecting bars 49 giving a very rigid construction where it is most needed,

and this bracing stiifens and. strengthens the pivotal connection between the rear legs; and the the brackets 26 I and:

seat member (throughplates 31; v

. The back member and the legs can be locked ini'the upright or; unfoldedpositionby suitable In the form. shown in Figs. 1 to 10 a locking plate 50 is pivoted to thebracket 26 at 51 and has pin 53.,carried bythe plate 34. on the back. legs.

It is preferredtouhave one of these latches or.

looks on each rear leg as giving a somewhat more rigid construction, but one catch is ordinarily sufficient. 'It is normally held in the look ing position of operated by various means, that shown comprising a wire connection 55 from each catchto a slidably mounted bar "56 at the front of the seat member and on theundrside thereof, preferably just back of the front bar 23. This bar is mount in anarc about the pivot 32 as a center.

as shown. at 47, anda notch 52 which may receive a Fig. 2 by a spring 54. It maybe- When this latch is released, the operator has al- 7 ready gripped the front edge of the seat 'member with one hand and now by gripping the back member with the other hand can easily swing the back over onto the top of the seat member, the first part of this movement being shown in Fig. 7.

It will be evident the back member swings on the pivots 32, and as the pivotal connection 35 betweenthe back member and the rear legs is spaced from the pivot 32, pivot 35 will swing backwardly This pivot 35 will also swing backends of the rear legs 17, this movement being permitted by the pivot 4'7and swinging links 46. This backward movement of the plate 34 shifts backwardly the link or bar connection 43 because of its connection 45 to the plate 34. This bar. or link, therefore, breaks the toggle 38-39 for the front legs and swings the link 39' rearwardly about pivot 41 and therefore, folds the front legs 16 rearwardly against the underside of the seat member. It will, therefore, be evident that as the back member 29 is folded against the top of theseat member, the rear legs are at the same time folded forwardly against the underside of the seat member and the front legs are folded rearwardly against the underside of the seat member. In view of the fact as stated above the front legs 16 are spaced a somewhat greater distance apart than the rear legs 17,,the rear legs movement of the fold in between the front legs as indicated in Fig.-

1 without their interfering with each other. This .arrangement also permits the use of the cross bars 49 between and connecting the rear legs to properly brace them and give them the strength and rigidity desired. It will be evident that by merely swinging the back member again to the upright position, the connecting mechanism will at thesame time swing the front and rear legs to the upright position, Also'the pin 53 will ride over the curved edge 58 of the latch member 50 to permit the pin-to seat in the notch 52 and automatically lock the-chair parts in this unfolded position. 1 i

- This has proved a very rigid construction, and the mechanical-parts of the operating mechanism are so locatedthat they are practically out of sight and not noticeable. {The back member and the front and rear legs all'foldfiat against the seat member asindicated in Fig. 6 so that the chair when folded requires minimum space, ,and'as the opposite sides are substantially parallel, a large number of folded chairs can be stacked one on the other. Also theedge portions 36 and 37pmvide sufficient footage so that the-folded chair will effectively stand on'edge without'support. I In Figs. 11 and 12 is shown a somewhat modified construction. The connection between the back member 59,'the seat member 60 and the rear legs 61, is practically that shown in Figs. 1 to 10, the back being pivoted to substantially the same shape of bracket 62 at 63 and there being substantially L-shaped plates 64 and 65 secured to the back 59 and legs- 61. These L-shaped plates are pivoted together as shown at 66 corresponding to pivot 35 in the first construction. The rear legs are connected to the seat member by the links 67, pivoted to the seat member and rear legs at 68 and 69 respectively. The upper ends of the rear legs are connected by a cross piece '70.

The front legs '71 pivoted at 72 to brackets '73 secured at the inner sides of the side bars '74 of the seat member, but instead of the toggle links 38 and 39 of the first form, these legs are braced by a single link '75 pivoted to the legs at 76 and connected by pivotal connection 7''! to a connecting bar or link '78. Mounted on the side bars of the member 74 of the seat member is a guide plate 79 having a somewhat inclined slot 80 with an offset end portion 81. The pivotal connection 77 between the links and bar '78 is a shouldered rivet running in the slot and is, therefore, guided thereby. The pivotal connection 68 for bar 67 is preferably to the plate '79. It will be evident that the links 75 rigidly brace the front legs 71 and hold them in the proper extended. position because inward or backward pressure on these legs will merely force the pivot stud '7? against the side of the offset 81 of the slot 80. However, should the back member 59 be folded down onto the top of the seat member, it will turn about pivot 63 and will, therefore, draw the pivotal connection 66 backwardly, and with it shift the connecting link or bar 78 as indicated in the dot and dash lines of Fig. 11. This movement of the bar '78 will shift the guide pins '77 out of the offset 81 of the slot, unlocking the front legs '71, and continued movement of the back member will draw the link '75 rearwardly and fold the front legs against the underside of the seat. Thus, in this form the same as in the first form, the operator may grip the front edge of the seat member and then fold the back down onto it, this folding movement at the same time folding the front and rear legs against the under side of the seat member. It will, of course, be evident that swinging the back member in the opposite direction to the upright position, will also swing the front and rear legs to the extended or supporting position. The locking device in this form could be the same as that in the first form, but is shown as a catch plate 82 pivoted to the underside of the seat member 83 and having a notch 84 in one edge to receive a pin 85 on the link 75. When the pin is in the notch, it prevents the link 75 swinging forwardly or to right and, therefore, securely locks the elements in position. A spring 86 tends to hold the catch in locking position. There may be one of these catches for each link 75 on the two front legs, and they may be connected by a cross bar 8'? in position to be easily pressed by the fingers when the operator grips the front edge of the seat member and thus easily release these catches. These catches automatically look when the back and leg members are swung to the upright position as the pins 84 ride over the curved edges 88.

In Fig. 13 is shown a slightly different locking means which may be used with either of the foregoing constructions. and comprises a plate 89 corresponding to plate 50 of the first for and pivoted to the bracket 26 at 90. It has a notch 91 to receive a pin 92 on the rear legs corresponding to the notches 52 and pin 53 of the first form. iowever, instead of the connection 55 to the front of the chair, it has a laterally extending thumb or finger piece 93 for releasing the catch against the action of the spring 94. Otherwise the action is the same.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A foldable chair comprising a seat member, a back member pivoted to the seat member adjacent its rear edge to fold onto the top of the seat member, front and rear legs pivotally connected to the seat member adjacent its front and rear edges respectively to fold in opposite directions against the under side of toggle links pivoted respectively to the seat member and front legs and pivoted together intermediate these pivots, said links being in substantial alignment when the legs are in upright position to lock them in this position, an operative connection from each rear leg to one of said toggle links, anda connection between each rear leg and back'member to cause them to move together to and from the folded position.

2. A foldable chair, comprising a seat member, sheet metal brackets securedto'said member adjacent the rear edge thereof, a back member pivoted to said brackets, rear legs, links pivoted to said brackets and'the rear legs, sheet metal plates secured to the back member and the rear legs respectively and pivoted to each other, front legs pivoted to the seat member-adjacent its front edge, and a link connection between one ofsaid plates and the front legs so that said foldable elements move together to and from the folded position.

3. A foldable chair comprising a seat member, a back member pivoted to the seat member adjacent its rear edge, front and rear -legs pivotally connected adjacent the front and rear edges respectively of the seat member to fold in opposite directions against the under side of the seat member, substantially L-shaped members connecting said back member and rear legs to each other, said L-shaped members being positioned so that when the rear legs and back are in folded position the outer edges of arms of the L-shaped members are in substantially the same plane transversely of the seat member to form a base on which the of the seatmember, a pair folded chair may stand without other support,

and said L-shaped members causing the back member and rear legs to move together to and from the folded position. i

4. A foldable chair comprising a seat member, a back member pivoted to the seat member adjacent its rear edge to fold onto the top of the seat member, front and rear legs pivotally connected with the seat member adjacent the front and rear edges respectively of the seat member to fold against the under side of the seat member, plates secured to the back member and rear legs and pivoted together to form an operative connection between the back member and the rear legs, said plates having edges which are in substantial alignment transversely the seat member when the back and rear legs are folded thereagainst to form supports for holding the folded chair in upright position, and operative connection between the rear and front legs to cause them to move together to and from folded position.

5. A foldable chair comprising a seat member, a back member pivoted to the seat member adjacent the rear edge thereof to fold onto the seat member, a pair of front legs pivoted to the seat member to fold against the'under side thereof, a pair of rear legs pivoted to the seat member by pivoted links so the legs may fold against the under side of the seat member, a pivotal connection between the back member and rear legs, and an operative connection between the front legs and the rear legs at a point adjacent said pivotal connection.

6. A foldable chair comprising a seat member, a back member pivoted to the seat member adjacent the rear edge thereof to fold onto the seat member, front legs pivoted to the seat member adjacent its front edge to fold against the under side thereof, a pair of toggle links pivoted respectively to the front legs and the seat member and to each other between said pivots, rear legs, links pivoted to the seat member and the rear legs to permit the legs to fold against the under side of the seat member, a pivotal connection between the back member and the rear legs, and an operative connection from the rear legs at a point adjacent said pivotal connection to one of the toggle links at a point between their outer pivots.

7. A foldable chair comprising a seat member, brackets secured to said member adjacent the rear edge thereof, a back member pivoted to said brackets, rear legs, links pivoted to said legs and said brackets, plates secured to the back member and the rear legs respectively and pivoted to each other, front legs pivoted to the seat member adjacent its front edge, and a link connection between one of said plates and the front legs so that said back member, front legs and rear legs move together to and from folded position.

8. A foldable chair comprising a seat member, brackets secured to said member adjacent the rear edge thereof and having portions extending upwardly therefrom, a back member pivoted to the upwardly extending portions of the brackets, rear legs, links pivoted to said rear legs and the seat member, plates secured to the back member and the rear legs respectively and having angularly disposed arms extending in overlapping relationship and pivoted to each other, front legs pivoted to the seat member adjacentits front edge, and means between one of the rear legs and the front legs so that said back member, rear legs and front legs move together to and from folded position. I

9. A foldable chair comprising a seat member, brackets secured to said member adjacent the rear edge thereof, a back member pivoted to said brackets, rear legs, links pivoted to the seat member and the rear legs, means secured to the rear legs and back member respectively and extending therefrom and pivotally connected, front legs pivoted to the seat member adjacent its front edge, and a connection between one of said rear legs and the front legs so that said back member, rear legs and front legs move together to and from folded position.

10. A foldable chair comprising a seat member,

a back pivoted to the seat member adjacent the rear edge thereof to fold over the seat member, rear legs pivotally connected to the seat member to fold thereunder, front legs pivoted to the seat member adjacent its front edge, and plates rigidly secured to the back and rear legs respectively and pivoted to each other whereby the back and rear legs move together to and from folded position.

JOHN KOVATS. 

